If you are like many dog owners, your dog has probably eaten the grass in your backyard or on your walks.  It might worry you and, of course, you don’t want to ruin your neighbors’ lawn!   An occasional chow on the grass is not an issue, but if it is consistent, then it could be a behavioral issue or indicative of an underlying illness.

Does eating grass really relieve your dog’s upset stomach?

There are many reasons that your dog might be eating grass and unfortunately, the evidence out there is not always conclusive.  Some veterinarians think that dogs eat grass when they don’t feel well as a way to make themselves throw up and then get relief.    Others think that dogs don’t know how to ‘cleanse themselves’ but I think they do!  Most do agree that the real harm or danger in your dog’s eating grass is that there could be pesticides in the grass that hurt your dog and/or toxic fertilizer.

Your dog could be eating grass because there is something lacking in his diet and/or he needs the taste of fiber.  Or maybe your dog just likes the feel and taste of grass!  But, as mentioned above, it could be harmful if this becomes a regular occurrence.

If your dog is eating grass consistently, there are ways to stop him or her.

Your dog could be eating grass because he is bored.

If you think your dog is eating grass because he’s bored (which can also be accompanied by digging holes in your yard) make sure that he is getting enough exercise.  Try to get into the routine of taking your dog on daily walks.

Stimulate your pup and get him interested in some games.  You can play fetch with your dog or buy a Kong and let him chew on that instead of your grass!  And, as always, make sure to give him a treat or some kind of reward every time he stops eating grass to play with you.  Positive reinforcement is always the key to change an unwanted behavior.

Your dog is not being fed enough or the right kind of food

Your dog could be eating grass because he or she is hungry.  If you think this is the case, try feeding your dog two or more meals rather than one large one.  If your pup is satiated throughout the day, he or she probably won’t want to chew on grass or anything else.

It is important for your dog to have a well balanced diet and if some nutrients are missing, your dog might chew grass for comfort.  Most commercial dog foods have the recommended dietary requirements for your dog.  If you are concerned, you can ask your vet for a recommendation or someone at your local pet store.

If your dog continues to eat grass, take him or her to the vet

If none of the above recommendations prevent your dog from eating grass, then there could be an underlying medical condition that is contributing to this behavior.   Make sure to schedule an appointment with your vet to see if this is the case.

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In honor of February being the National Spay and Neuter Awareness month, I thought that it would be important to remind every pet owner of its’ benefits.  It is truly important not just for overpopulation, but for the overall health of your dog or cat.

Spaying is when your veterinarian removes the ovaries and uterus of a female pet.  While not the most fun for your little gal, it requires only a short stay in the hospital and offers lifetime health benefits. Neutering is the removal of the testicles of your male dog or cat and mellows them out while keeping them closer to home.

Below are some of the benefits of having your pet spayed or neutered.

Spaying and Neutering helps fight overpopulation of cats and dogs.

As most pet owners know, there are thousands of cats and dogs in shelters that need homes.  By spaying or neutering your own pet, you are ensuring that your cat or dog will not contribute to this problem.  There are too many unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.

Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life.

Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer in your female pets.   Try to spay your cat or dog before they are in heat to ensure that they stay healthy.  Your vet or adoption shelter will give you some advice about the timing, but usually this should be done before four months of age.

Neutering provides health benefits for your boy!

Similar to female pets, neutering your male pet can help to prevent testicular cancer; this should be done prior to six months of age.

Your spayed female won't go into heat.

While each cat varies, most go into heat four to five days every three weeks upon maturity (usually 3 – 4 months).  We’ve all heard the cries when a cat is in heat and they also urinate more often and not always in the litter box!

Your male dog will usually stay closer to home and behave better.

Male pets that aren’t neutered will do anything to find a mate.  They become extremely hyper and want to steer away from the home (think of a teenage male!).  When they are agitated and hyper, they become more aggressive and don’t behave as they should.

Neutered cats and dogs focus more on their families and aren’t distracted by hormonal changes.

It can be cost effective

The cost of your pet's spay or neutering surgery is a lot less than the potential cost of having and caring for a litter.  And, when you have the litter, you will have to spend the time finding your cats and dogs homes (unless you plan to keep them all).  Again, this will add to overpopulation.

Spaying and neutering your pet prevents unwanted stray and feral pets.

Stray animals can contribute to a real and vital issue in the country. They can prey on wildlife and other outdoor cats, damage the local green life, and scare your kids. By spaying and neutering your pets, you will help reduce the number of feral animals on the street.

The benefits of spaying and neutering are endless.  Please keep the above in mind when bringing a new dog or cat into your home.

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Below are the top 5 Articles on Kitten or Cat Care /Advice from petpav.com.  We hope that you enjoy them and share them with all your cat lover friends!

1.  Why Is My Cat Drooling

My friend’s cat, Ginger, was drooling the other night and Janice (her owner)  was worried.  But, this is fairly common among cats.  In fact, you will probably notice that your cat foams at the mouth after riding to the vet’s office or getting a dose of medicine!

Why is My Cat Drooling - Read Article

2.  5 Easy Ways to Keep Your Indoor Cat Active

If you have an indoor cat, you might be worried that your cat is not getting enough exercise and/or activity.  Cats can easily sleep the day away.  However, keeping your indoor cat active and entertained will not only have health benefits, but will also prevent boredom and keep your cat’s brain sharp.  Read the 5 easy ways to keep your cat healthy, happy and active.

5 Easy Ways To Keep Your Indoor Cat Active - Read Article

3.  Tips for An Aggressive Cat

As many cat owners know, our cats can be aggressive at times; it is inherent in their genetic make-up. My cat, Sammy, can become playfully aggressive and I know when to stop if he becomes too wild. Each cat is different in what he or she likes and we need to respect each cat’s boundaries. Read this article to learn about the different types of aggressive behavior and how to combat it.

Tips For An Agressive Cat - Read Article

4.  Can You Overfeed a Kitten?

My sister has two kittens, Gracie & Wyatt, who are now approaching eight months old.  She has been feeding them both wet food- a measured amount and dry food all day long.   Her kitties are thriving!  She is concerned, however, that Wyatt, the boy, might be getting too chunky and wants to know if she is over-feeding her kittens.  Read some of the general guidelines for feeding your kittens.

Can You Overfeed A Kitten - Read Article

5.  Cats Do Have Dreams

When I came home the other day, Sammy, my cat, was sleeping (big surprise).  However, instead of greeting me at the door, as he usually does, he let out this loud yelp-meow.  He then shook his head and realized I had just walked inside.  I figured that he must have been in the middle of a dream.  It is a well known fact that cats do sleep a lot, but do they sleep enough to dream?

Do Cats Have Dreams - Read Article

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Guest post by Kimberly Gauthier, Editor in Chief of Keep the Tail Wagging

Sometimes I look at our dogs and think “man, you guys are spoiled.”  And then I correct myself, because our dogs are loved (but possibly a little spoiled).  Last night, I sat on the sofa and allowed all three of our dogs to jockey for a position on my lap, which inspired me to share a little bit about their day to day life and why it’s so good.  Despite the fact that I have a blog dedicated to the trio.

In no particular order…

1.  Our dogs have furniture privileges.  My boyfriend has dubbed our sectional “The Most Expensive Dog Bed in the World.”  I’m pretty sure Paris Hilton can dispute that claim.  One of the rules my boyfriend had was that the dogs weren’t to be allowed on the furniture, but then he’d pick them up (they were puppies) and put them on his lap.  I couldn’t convince them that they didn’t know the difference.  One day I went to Goodwill and picked up five Pier One Imports throws for $20.  They’ve been couch potatoes ever since.

2.  I like to spice up their meals.  Kibble isn’t enough for our babies.  Not even kibble produced by my favorite food company, Halo Pets.  I took it one step further and introduced our pups to Nature’s Balance and buy the food rolls to chop up and mix with the kibble.  More soft food?  That’s when I return to Halo Pets for their canned food – mixed in with the Spot’s Stew kibble gives our dogs a yummy treat.  Oh, I’m not finished.  Twice a week, we add fish oil to their food – they love it and it’s great for their skin, coat, joints, and brain functions.  Gotta keep our dogs smart.

3.  We created a game just for them.  When “Give it To Mommy” is uttered, even whispered, the dogs jump up and look for a toy.  Sydney comes directly to me bouncing from side to side in anticipation.  And then I chase the dogs from room to room trying to take a toy away.  They join in and it turns into a game of tag and keep-away.  It’s hilarious and quickly brought about the need to teach our dogs “Drop It” for when I really do want them to give me the toy.

4.  Seven dog beds.  We have three dogs who have furniture privileges and we own seven dog beds.  And by the time this article is published, I bet we have at least one more.  The best dog bed we own is the Ortho Bliss Memory Foam bed.  The dog bed that’s lasted the longest is from Costco; but we bought it from Craigslist.  It’s nearly 3 years old.  The most durable dog beds are Kong dog beds and we’ve only found them at PetSmart who puts them on sale at the crazy price of $30-$35 and I snatch up a couple each year.  I think we need 1 more now that we have 3 dogs.

5.  Lots of hugs and kisses.  Each of our dogs are used to getting loads of love and attention and I spend a lot of time making sure they know that they are loved, gorgeous, and smart.  They’re basically the best dogs ever and thank heavens they’re canine, because if they were human, they’d be impossible with the big heads I’d given them.

6.  Shaking up the walks.  We have a local dog park, but I’m not a fan of dog parks (dog owners depend too heavily on them for socialization and exercise).  The dogs never know where we’re going when I say “let’s go bye bye.”  Are we walking on the trail that borders our property, through the woods between our neighbors’ properties, driving to the field near the dog park, or someplace else?  I’m convinced that the more sniffing they can do, the more fun they’ll have.

7.  Off leash walks.  And speaking of walks; 99% of our walks are leash free so our dogs get to run ahead and come back.  I started walking them off leash when someone pointed out that if we walk a mile, they dogs walk 3 miles, because of all the back and forth they do.  As the mom to three Cattle Dog mix pups, I was sold immediately and took the leashes off.  The dogs love it and when I do pull out the leash, they understand that it’s only temporary (when we see joggers or other dog walkers).

8.  Of course you can have a play date.  Yes, we schedule play dates for our dogs.  We have friends who have a giant Great Dane named Zues and he loves to come over and stretch his legs on our 5 acres and our dogs chase after him.  Well, Rodrigo and Blue chase after him.  Sydney stays with me (she’s not a fan).

9.  Vacation with the dogs.  I’m in the process of scheduling our 2013 vacation with the dogs.  We’ll rent a house for 3-5 days and pack up the dogs to take them with us.  They love the trip, the new sights and smells, and (most of all) sleeping in the bed with us.  They have their own room at home, but the rules are off on vacation.  They are such bed hogs.

10.  They have their own room and yard.  We live on 5 unfenced acres, but the dogs have ¼ acre of fenced property that borders their bedroom.  They have indoor / outdoor access all day long when we’re at work and then join the family on our expensive dog bed, aka our sectional, when we come home and relax for the evening.

We look at our dogs and laugh, because they truly do have a wonderful life.  My dream is to live on 100+ acres and have the time, money and room to bring home two more dogs that get to enjoy the life of Rodrigo, Sydney and Blue.

Now it’s YOUR turn! Share why your pet has it good…

About the Author: Kimberly Gauthier is the Editor in Chief of Keep the Tail Wagging and offers dog care tips to dog owners.  She also distributes the weekly newsletter, Blogging in My Pajamas.  When she’s not gabbing about dogs and blogging, she’s hanging out with three dogs, her dog co-parent, and planning to take over the world.


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